Course · Spreadsheets

Excel from Scratch: Formulas, Functions, and Data Analysis

A hands-on Microsoft Excel course for beginners: cells and references, formulas and functions (SUM, IF, VLOOKUP), logic, lookups, sorting and filters, charts, and PivotTables — with interactive exercises where you type real formulas.

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PepelenCourse author

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Excel basics: cells, references, and data entry

The interface, worksheets, and the A1 cell address

6 exercises · Find your way around the Excel window and name the address of any cell by its column and row (A1) without mistakes.

Entering data and AutoFill

6 exercises · Enter numbers, text, and dates correctly and fill series quickly with the fill handle.

References: relative, absolute, and mixed ($)

6 exercises · Choose the reference type (A1, $A$1, A$1, $A1) deliberately so that the formula copies correctly.

Formulas and basic functions

Your first formula: arithmetic and the order of operations

6 exercises · Write arithmetic formulas with cell references and predict the result, taking operator precedence into account.

Basic functions: SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, COUNTA

6 exercises · Apply basic aggregate functions to a range and understand the difference between COUNT and COUNTA.

Copying formulas and how references behave

7 exercises · Build one formula and fill it correctly down a column or across a row, choosing the right references.

Logic and conditions

The IF function and nested IFs

6 exercises · Build decisions of the form “if the condition is true, one result; otherwise, another,” including decisions with several thresholds, using nesting.

AND/OR logic and conditional counting with COUNTIF

6 exercises · Combine several conditions with AND/OR and count the cells that meet a condition with COUNTIF.

SUMIF and SUMIFS: sums with conditions

6 exercises · Sum values by one or several conditions without mixing up the argument order of the two functions.

Looking up and linking data

VLOOKUP: looking up values in a table

6 exercises · Pull data from a lookup table by key with VLOOKUP and an exact match.

HLOOKUP, INDEX+MATCH, and XLOOKUP

6 exercises · Choose the right lookup tool for the job: HLOOKUP for rows, INDEX+MATCH as the all-purpose option, XLOOKUP in newer versions.

The #N/A error and reliable lookups

6 exercises · Understand what causes #N/A in lookups and fix it, making your lookup formulas robust.

Analysis and visualization

Sorting and filters

6 exercises · Sort and filter table rows with Sort and AutoFilter while keeping your data intact.

Conditional formatting and charts

5 exercises · Highlight data with conditional formatting rules and choose the right chart type.

PivotTable basics

6 exercises · Summarize a large list: group by a field and calculate sums and counts without formulas.

Clean data, errors, and final practice

Cell formats and text functions

6 exercises · Tell a cell's value apart from its format, and transform text with CONCATENATE/“&”, LEFT, RIGHT, MID, and TRIM.

Error values and their causes

6 exercises · Recognize Excel's error values and name the cause of each, so you can fix formulas quickly.

Final practice: a mini report from data to conclusions

6 exercises · Bring together what you've learned in one task: calculate, apply a condition, pull in data with a lookup, and fix an error.